Total Corbion PLA starts up bioplastics plant in Thailand

Total Corbion PLA, a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Total and Corbion, has announced the start-up of its 75 000 tpy PLA (poly lactic acid) bioplastics plant in Rayong, Thailand.

The plant has successfully produced Luminy® PLA resins. This bioplastic provides a valuable contribution towards the circular economy being 100% renewable and biodegradable and offering multiple environmentally-friendly waste solutions.

The new facility will produce a broad range of Luminy® PLA resins from renewable, non-GMO sugarcane sourced locally in Thailand: from standard PLA to innovative, high heat PLA and PDLA (poly d-lactic acid) with unique properties.

At the end of their useful life, PLA products can be mechanically or chemically recycled, or in some cases composted and returned to the soil as fertilizer.

Total Corbion PLA will integrate the PLA facility with its lactide plant, the monomer required for the production of PLA, that has simultaneously been expanded to 100 000 tpy production capacity. Furthermore, the 1000 tpy PLA pilot plant, which has been operational since the end of 2017, is located on the same site and will be used for product development.

The start-up marks a major milestone for both the JV and the bioplastics market. With this additional 75 000 tpy facility, the global production of PLA bioplastics will increase by almost 50% to 240 000 tpy. PLA is a fast-growing polymer market with an estimated annual growth rate of 10% to 15%.

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